Portable winch



Sept. 16, 1969 R. L. DURAND 3,467,359

PORTABLE WINCH Filed June 23, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ROY L. DURA ND ATTORNEY R. L. DURAND PORTABLE WINCH Sept. 16, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1967 INVENTOR ROY L. DURAND ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,467,359 PORTABLE WINCH Roy L. Durand, Denver, Colo., assignor to Donald L. Lozow, Denver, Colo. Filed June 23, 1967, Ser. No. 648,466 Int. Cl. B66d 1/00; H02p 1/54, /46

U.S. Cl. 254168 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lifting device has a portable mount for a winch drum and line, a reduction gear being mounted at one end of the winch with opposite shaft-engaging end portions for selective driving either by a reversible DC motor coupled to one end of the gear drive or by an AC motor coupled to the opposite end of the drive. Suitable means of attachment at one end of the mount opposite the Winch line permits attachment of the lift device to a stationary support when the winch line is attached to a load, or vice versa.

A lightweight portable lift device consists in the combination of a mount for a winch in which the winch is driven through a common reduction gear drive either by a reversible motor permanently ailixed to the mount or by a portable drill motor removably connected to the mount. The mount is so constructed that it can be suspended between a stationary support and a load to perform a variety of operations, such as, lifting and lowering, pulling, towing, or merely to suspend a load in predetermined relation to a support.

This invention generally relates to new and useful lightweight portable winch devices, and more particularly relates to a portable motorized lift device which can be releasably attached between a stationary support and a load to be lifted, lowered or pulled and which is characterized by its lightweight, compact construction while being capable of delivering the necessary power to perform a number of tasks in a highly dependable, efficient manner.

-It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved lightweight portable winch which is rugged and compact and is further characterized by its versatility and dependability in use; and more specifically wherein the winch member is provided with a reduction gear drive which can be driven at opposite ends alternately by a power source permanently mounted in association therewith or by an auxiliary power source releasably mounted in association therewith.

'It is another object of the present invention to provide for a portable lift device, or hoist, which will facilitate ready attachment and release to and from a load to be lifted, suspended, towed or otherwise transported in an efficient reliable manner, the device being sufficiently compact and light in weight as to permit convenient handling by one person, and further can be easily transported or carried from one job site to another.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a winch device for a novel and improved common reduction gear drive being alternately engageable at either end to drive the winch from separate power sources, such as for instance, from a reversible motor selectively coupled to one end of the gear reduction drive or by a hand drill motor releasably coupled to the opposite end of the gear reduction drive.

In accordance with the present invention the portable lift device consists in the combination of a common mount for a Winch and winch line, and a reduction gear drive is mounted at one end of the winch having oppo sitely directed shaft-engaging end portions to permit selective driving of the winch through the reduction gear drive alternately by a reversible motor permanently mounted on the support plate with a drive shaft to be selectively coupled to one end of the gear reduction drive or by a hand drill which is releasably connected to the mount and selectively coupled to the opposite end of the gear reduction drive. A hook or other suitable means of attachment is provided at one end of the mount opposite the direction of extension of the winch line for attachment of the winch device to a stationary support when the winch line is attached to a load. Preferably the motor drive may be operated from a separate power source such as a twelve-volt DC car battery, or may be operated or driven by the hand drill motor connected to a separate AC or DC power source.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily understood and appreciated from a consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred form of invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a somewhat perspective view illustrating the manner in which the portable lift device is utilized in suspending a load.

FIGURE 4 illustrates another application of the preferred form of lift device when attached for lifting a load.

FIGURE 5 is a view illustrating the attachment of the lift device in pulling or towing a load; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view, partially in section, of the releasable coupling of the motor drives into opposite ends of the gear reduction drive.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 6 a preferred form of lightweight portable lift device, being generally designated by the numeral 10, which comprises a mount in the form of a relatively flat, generally rectangular support plate 12 having base support ribs 13, and a transversely extending winch member 14 is mounted on the upper surface of the support plate 12. Winch member 14 comprises a drum or reel 15 being rotatably supported on a drum shaft 16, the shaft being journaled on opposite sides of the drum in bearings carried within suitable housings 18 and 20, respectively. Each housing may be Welded or otherwise permanently affixed to the fiat surface of the support plate 12. In turn, one end of the drum shaft 16 projects through the housing 18 and has a gear 22 fixed at the terminal end for intermeshing engagement with a worm gear 24 disposed in normal relation to and beneath the axis of the shaft 16. The worm gear has oppositely projecting, drive shaft-engaging ends 30 and 31 which are journaled in sleeve bearings 33 and 34, respectively, the bearings being mounted in upstanding relation on the support plate 12.

It will be seen that the shaft-engaging end 30 projects through the bearing 33 and terminates in a hollow cylindrical end portion 35 provided with an open slot 36' to permit insertion of one end 38 of a power take-off shaft 39 from a motor drive represented at 40. The shaft 39 is supported for rotation in spaced bearings 42, and a gear 44 is fixed for rotation on the shaft by means of a key 45 inserted in a keyway 46 on the shaft 39. It will be noted that the keyway or groove is of a length greater than that of the key whereby to permit lengthwise sliding movement of the shaft toward and away from the slotted end portion 35 of the shaft-engaging end 30 under the control of a push-pull knob 47. Moreover the end portion 38 of the shaft 39 has a locking pin 48 in a transverse bore adjacent the terminal end of the shaft which, when the shaft 39 is advanced toward the end 30, may be aligned to enter the slot 36 and to rotatably couple the take-off shaft 39 with the shaft-engaging end 30 of the worm gear. Of course it will be evident that various coupling means may be utilized to effect this connection.

The motor drive 40 includes a housing 50 mounted on the support plate with a drive shaft 52 projecting from one end of the housing and having a worm gear 53 intermeshing with the gear 44 on the power take-off shaft 39. The motor drive may take any conventional form of commercially available motor, and most desirably is a reversible motor which can be operated oif a twelvevolt DC battery source, such as, a car battery. To this end, an input cord 55 is illustrated for the motor having terminal battery connections 56; and a control switch 58 on one side of the housing can be advanced to an off, forward, or reverse position. Moreover, when the motor drive is in the off position the winch drum is locked against rotation by the worm gear 24 as well as the worm gear 53.

The opposite shaft-engaging portion 31 of the reduction gear terminates within the bearing 34 and has a hollow squared end section for insertion of a complementary end portion 62 at the inner end of a coupling element 63, the latter forming a part of a flexible drive shaft 64 for an auxiliary motor drive 66. The motor drive 66 may also be of a conventional type, such as, a portable electric drill, as represented in dotted form in FIG- URES 1 and 2, and may be removably supported in fixed relation to the plate 12 by tapered mounting blocks 68 which are adjustably attached to the plate in spaced, parallel facing relation to one another. The portable electric drill rests on the blocks and may be securely clamped in place by means of a retaining strap 70 which is passed intermediately beneath the mounting blocks 68 and over the body of the drill. The flexible drive shaft 64 permits selective coupling or uncoupling between the drill motor and the gear reduction drive; and when the winch drum is to be operated olf the drill motor the shaft 39 is disconnected by retracting the engagement knob 47.

A winch line or rope 72 is wound upon the winch drum, and the leading or free end 72 of the line is passed or guided forwardly through a retrieving guide eye 74 at one end of the support plate 12. The free end of the cable line has a hook 75 to be releasably attached to a load, or other suitable means of attachment may be employed. In turn, a hook 80 is afiixed to the opposite end of the plate 12 to facilitate ready attachment of the plate to a stationary support. The hook 80 may either be attached directly to the plate or attached to the end of a cable attached to the plate.

The entire lift device is sufficiently light in weight that it may be carried and handled by one person and for this purpose a hand cut-out 82 is formed in the plate 12 just forwardly of the winch drum; or if desired a separate gripping handle or handles, not shown, may be attached to either side of the support plate.

FIGURES 3 to illustrate typical applications of the portable lift device of the present invention. For example in FIGURE 3 the lift device is suspended from a stationary support or overhead beam B for the purpose of lifting or suspending a motor block M. Here the attaching hook 80 is shown connected to a chain extending upwardly from opposite sides of the motor block, and the winch line 72 may be paid out the desired distance for attachment to a chain or other suitable connecting member on the beam. In this application the motor drive 40 may be operated off a battery source, or if desired the portable drill motor may be energized from an AC power source to drive the winch drum in lifting or lowering the motor block. In this relation, it will be apparent that the winch line may be connected to a travel arm or other suitable means on the overhead support to permit sliding or advancement of the device and attached load along the overhead support.

In FIGURE 4 the device 10 is shown releasably suspended in essentially the same manner between a support stand S resting on a truck bed and a load L to be lifted onto the truck bed. Here the motor drive 40 may be energized by connection of the terminals 56 to a separate power source P or may be connected to the truck battery source.

In another typical application shown in FIGURE 5 the device 10 is attached to the bumper of a car for the purpose of pulling a boat from the water. Again the motor drive 40 may be operated off the car battery and, by braking the car, the lift device will afford the pulling power necessary to remove the boat from the edge of the water onto dry ground. Similarly the lift device may be used effectively when the car is lodged or stuck and cannot free itself because of lack of traction. Again, it is merely necessary to attach the device to the bumper and attach the winch line to a stationary object, and by Winding the winch line will provide the necessary force to free the car.

The foregoing applications are given merely for the purpose of illustration and not limitation; and, because of the lightweight compact construction of the device, it is extremely versatile and readily conformable for use in any number of pulling, lifting or towing operations. Thus, for instance, the motor drive 40 is useful in the field since it can be operated off a DC power source, such as, a twelve-volt automobile battery and drives the winch drum through a thirty-to-one gear reduction ratio to provide more than sufiicient power for a lift capacity of one thousand pounds at a rate of four inches per minute; yet the weight of the entire lift device will not exceed thirty pounds with a twenty-foot cable or winch line. Further in applications where an AC power source is available, the device may be effectively operated through the use of a one-quarter inch to one-half inch portable drill motor, and which through the flexible drive shaft will provide more than the necessary power to drive the winch drum through the gear reduction drive. Of course is it to be understood that various modifications may be made for example in the type of motor drive utilized, the specific form of gear reduction, and the type or form of shaft connection between the motor drive and the reduction gear. If desired, a separate brake may be provided for the winch drum for the purpose of locking the drum against rotation independently of the worm gear 24.

It is therefore to be understood that various other modifications and changes may be made in the specific construction and arrangement of parts comprising the present invention as well as its intended applications and uses without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A lightweight portable lift device being adapted to be releasably suspended between a stationary support member and a movable load member, said lift device comprising a portable mount, a winch drum attached to said mount including a winch line wound thereon, drive means including a gear reducer supported on said mount for reversibly driving said winch drum, an attaching member at one end of said mount for releasable attachment to one of said support or load members, and said winch line being extensible in the opposite direction away from said attaching member under the control of said drive means for releasable connection to the other of said support or load members, said drive means further including a reversible DC motor drive releasably coupled to one end of said gear reducer, and an auxiliary AC motor drive removably connected to said portable mount for releasable coupling to the other end of said gear reducer.

2. A lightweight portable lift device according to claim 1, said drive means further including a reversible DC motor drive being releasably coupled to said gear reducer, and an auxiliary AC motor drive being removably connected to said portable mount for releasably coupling to said gear reducer.

3. A lightweight portable lift device according to claim 1, said winch drum being normally locked against rotation by said gear reducer.

4. A lightweight portable lift device according to claim 1, further including mounting blocks disposed on said portable mount and a flexible strap member for removable connection of said AC motor drive in aligned relation to said gear reducer, and a flexible drive shaft interconnecting said AC motor drive and said gear reducer.

5. A portable winch comprising in combination a support, a winch drum mounted on said support including a winch line wound upon said drum, a drum shaft being supported in bearings on said support including a driven gear keyed to one end of said drum shaft, a drive gear disposed in intermeshing engagement with said driven gear including oppositely projecting shaft-engaging ends, a first motor drive including a drive shaft releasably coupled to one shaft-engaging end of said drive gear, and an auxiliary motor drive being removably connected to said support and releasably coupled to the opposite shaftengaging end of said drive gear for driving said winch drum when said first motor drive is uncoupled from the one shaft-engaging end.

6. A portable winch according to claim 5, said drive gear being in the form of a worm gear, bearing members for opposite shaft-engaging ends of said Worm gear, said first motor drive including a second worm gear at the end of said drive shaft, a power take-off shaft including a driven gear intermeshing with the worm gear on said motor shaft, said power take-oil? shaft being slidable axially with respect to said driven gear and including coupling means for releasable connection of said power take-01f shaft to one of the shaft-engaging ends of said gear reducer.

7. A portable winch according to claim 6, said one of said shaft-engaging ends including an open, slotted portion for releasable insertion of said power take-off shaft, said power take-off shaft including a locking pin insertable in the slot to rotatably couple said power take-off shaft to said one shaft-engaging end.

8. A portable winch according to claim 5, said auxiliary motor drive being in the form of a portable drill, a flexible drive shaft releasably interconnecting said portable drill and the other of said shaft-engaging ends for rotatably driving said Winch drum.

9. A portable winch according to claim 5, said support being defined by a relatively flat, rectangular plate including a hand grip thereon, said winch line being extensible longitudinally of said plate, and an attaching member at one end of said plate opposite to the direction of extension of said winch line.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,985,639 12/1934 King 318107 2,882,013 4/1959 Margetts 254- 170 3,079,510 2/ 1963 Hartwig 3 18441 3,084,808 4/ 1963 Peduzzi 212- 3,207,969 9/ 1965 Hoover 318441 3,226,089 12/ 1965 Patz 254-145 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,032,001 6/ 1953 France.

515,485 l/ 1931 Germany.

902,544 8/ 1962. Great Britain.

932,627 7/ 1963 Great Britain.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner HARVEY C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

